Introduction
The Fall of the House of Usher is a horror story written by Edgar Allen Poe. The story contains several rich themes, which are discussed below.
The theme of Madness and Isolation
The characters are struggling to overcome the frightening situation prevailing at the house. Roderick, who is suffering from mental disturbance, seems to be hopeless about cherishing his soul. His fears and delusions push him into a state of paranoia. The author tries to reflect Roderick’s negative mood and depressed nature. The negative nature creates psychological delusions and makes Roderick isolated from the rest of the environment. The impact of the environment and mysterious atmosphere also contribute to Roderick’s mental illness. If a person lives in an old decaying building, he would feel psychological disturbance because of the horrifying isolation.
Decay and Death
The decay symbolizes Usher’s family life and points to the inevitable decline that accompanies life. As the story culminates, both Roderick and Madeline die because death cannot be avoided. They attempt to avoid it, but it leads them to destruction.
Madeline’s hallucinations remind Roderick of the unavoidable scene of death, and her unexpected return causes the collapse of both the family and the Usher’s house. So, the theme of death and decay is also a significant component of the horror story. The House of Usher is decaying and can be observed through characters mood of isolation.
The Supernatural Elements
The story is rich with supernatural elements, such as Madeline’s shocking return after her death and unheard sounds from the surroundings of the building. The house and its surroundings also reflect supernatural ideas, such as invisible lines between reality and hallucination.
Family and Heritage
The complex relationship between Roderick and Madeline describes the psychological burden and the weight of the family legacy it carries. The Usher family’s fall is due to the sins and misfortunes of their ancestors. The ancestor’s sins and misfortunes can cause trouble for their descendants.
The Role of Aesthetic Art
The artist’s pursuit of Roderick reflects his disturbed mind. This suggests that art can reveal and worsen one’s inner demons. The story is written with aesthetic art because the poetic language is rich with vivid imagery that highlights the idea and beauty that may embody fear. The role of aesthetic art is also a theme for the Fall of the House of Usher.
The strange or mysterious
The old building seems to be mysterious embodying various secrets. This contributes to the sense of dread as it becomes terrifying.
Roderick and Madeline are brother and sister. These are familiar with each other, but their delusion makes them strange and mysterious to each other. Therefore, Roderick fears Madeline. She fears Roderick.
Fear
Fear is the primary theme fall of the House of Usher and it symbolizes or causes mental illness and isolation for the characters. Roderik fears death, and the fear creates anxiety for him and blurs his reality. Edgar Allen Poe mainly focuses on psychological fear rather than apparent violence. The fall of the House of Usher’s significant theme is mental anguish.
Conclusion
The Fall of the House of Usher themes can vary according to the perception of readers. The story- The Fall of the House of Usher’s major theme can be the impact of isolation, heritage, and dark psyche of the characters.